Physical Education

Most states’ physical education requirements are insufficient despite increased national attention on the need for children to be more active, concludes a report.

The report—conducted by the Reston, Va.-based National Association for Sport and Physical Education and the Washington-based American Heart Association—surveyed physical education coordinators in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It found that most states do not mandate a specific number of minutes of physical education per week, and about half of the states allow exemptions, waivers and/or substitutions for participation in physical education.